Free A Woman Named Damaris by Janette Oke Page A

give the lady there a message for me?”
    Damaris would have preferred to have written the woman a note, but she had no pen or paper.
    Mr. Brown nodded again.
    “The—the captain—he talked to her—about me getting a job in her store. Could you tell her that I—I won’t be staying on in Poplar Creek but—I—I sure do ’preciate the offer.”
    Mr. Brown’s eyes opened wide as she made her little speech. Apparently Mrs. Brown had said nothing to him about their previous conversation.
    Damaris allowed her eyes to turn back to the fire. “I—I didn’t know you weren’t stopping here,” she added quietly as an explanation.
    Mr. Brown shifted on his log seat. Damaris continued stirring the morning porridge without looking up.
    “I think thet’s good enough,” he said to her. “I’m in rather a hurry.”
    Damaris dished the porridge and handed him his plate. She felt her own stomach heave. It was bad enough trying to down the gruel, unsavory as it was without milk or sugar, but to eat it half-raw, that was even worse.
    But Mr. Brown went right to work, washing down the unappetizing food with long gulps of weak coffee.
    He stood and cast a glance at the sky. There was no break in the cloudy curtain that closed them in.
    “Get the kids up,” he said to Damaris. “I need to take thet wagon to town fer supplies. I was gonna drive the other wagon but I don’t want to bother Mrs. Brown.”
    Damaris moved to obey but her thoughts were heavy. With their wagon gone and Mrs. Brown sleeping in the other, how would she ever get through the morning with four youngsters out in the rain?
    Mr. Brown did not notice her concern. He had thought of another item to add to his long list and had reached into his pocket to draw it out. As he unfolded his little bit of paper, Damaris saw the bills tucked inside it.
    She drew in her breath with a quick gulp of air. He has money! And he’s heading to town! Damaris knew what that meant. They likely wouldn’t see him for the rest of the day and when he did appear again—there would be trouble—for all of them.
    With a quick step she went to awaken the children. She did not want Mr. Brown to be annoyed when he left. That might make him even more irritable and mean when he returned after a day at the saloon.
    The three girls were not happy about the new day. They fussed and quarreled and lagged as Damaris tried to hurry them. Edgar awoke without too much grumbling but wanted to cling to Damaris for warmth and comfort, while all she wanted was to get him dressed and out of the wagon. When they all finally emerged no one was in a good mood.
    “It’s cold out here,” moaned Nina, and Trudy echoed the words.
    “Why do we have to come out in the rain?” cried Bella.
    “Your pa is going to town,” answered Damaris.
    “Why can’t we go?” asked Trudy.
    “He doesn’t wish to take you,” answered Damaris, almost as sour as the others.
    “I’m cold.”
    “Wrap your shawl closer,” advised Damaris.
    “It doesn’t help. It’s still cold.”
    “Yes,” said Damaris, “it is cold—and it is going to get much colder, so no use fussing about it.”
    Damaris decided to try to keep the fire going. At least there would be some comfort from the heat.
    Conrad was just finishing his breakfast when Damaris and the children reached the shelter where the breakfast fire flamed. He didn’t even nod at Damaris or speak to his sisters as he spooned in the last few mouthfuls.
    “Bet yer goin’ with Pa,” accused Bella.
    Conrad nodded his head but did not look up.
    “It’s not fair!” cried Nina.
    He did look up then. Damaris thought she could read anger or resignation in his eyes.
    “You wanna carry heavy sacks and crates to load the wagon?” His voice was low and controlled—but also weary—and Damaris suddenly realized that he was a very young boy to have been doing a man’s job for the many, many miles of crossing the prairies.
    She stole a look at him and noticed how the coarse